Fallen

Alexandra stood in the entryway and drew in a breath as his footsteps rang out, growing closer. With each step her heart tattooed harder against her chest, could he hear it as well? She wanted to turn around at his approach but refused.

Damon stood behind her now, close enough she could feel the warmth of his body caressing hers. It held of promises to come when he finally laid his hands on her. The expectation burned a path of desire throughout her body, mind and soul. Her dress was just another barrier that stood between them.

All reasoning disappeared with each breath at the nape of her neck, passionate and intoxicating. She was his, as she always had been, even though they had only met in her dreams.

His hands lingered at her waist, then he ran his fingers up and down her sides. Alexandra’s skin burned where he touched her, no other had this power over her. When he pulled her against him she could feel how she affected him, how her body had made him yearn for her.

“Alexandra,” he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear making her moan in delight.

Damon traced a path along her shoulders, down her stomach and across her full breasts. They grew in anticipation of his touch. Her nipples strained against the fabric, craving more of what he could offer her. She arched into him, pressed her body into his and shuddered in unrestrained passion.

“Alexandra,” he repeated once more. “How is it that I can touch you? You’ve only ever been a tortuous vision. Help me, please. I want to be free.”

She needed to see him, see the face she had ached for. This lover that had been trapped in purgatory for loving another. The one who tormented her dreams for the past five years.

The clouds rumbled and water poured from the sky. Rain droplets on her skin added to the tingle of his touch. She turned to finally know who he was, and why he haunted her with such unrelenting passion.

His arms held her still as she tried to move. She arched her head back, his strong jaw and full lips filled her vision.

“Damon, it’s time to come with me. Leave this place, you no longer belong here.” She took his hand to pull him out of the darkness and –

Bang!

***

Alex woke on the floor tangled in sheets and covered in sweat. Her heart raced harder than ever. Why had he evaded her yet again? She still hadn’t met the man but with each dream the passion increased. Somehow, she felt like she’d known him forever. Now she longed for him even more.

She clenched her fists into the blanket and leaned against the nightstand. When would he be free? The dreams plagued her every fall for the last five years and she’d failed to save him each time. But last night was much more vivid and clear.

The name Damon whispered in her mind and she took a labored breath. She’d never remembered before.

Could it be time? Recalling the old fortune teller Diana had dragged her to years ago who’d told her; she could save her one true love when the leaves turned gold. Did it mean she finally pulled him away from darkness?

Only one way to find out. Alex stood from the rumpled sheets and pulled back the heavy curtains from the window. The weak light of the sun sliced through the gray clouds and shone upon the huge oak tree in her front yard.

An outline of her palm faded from the window as shock coursed through her. The leaves hung low on the branches, but not in their usual red and orange colours. The entire tree was covered in golden leaves.

She fumbled for her phone on the nightstand and pressed Diana’s number.

“Di? It’s me, we must talk! Meet me at Dark Beans in an hour.”

***

A bell tolled in the distance, indicating the time. Alex glanced at her watch in dismay. Damn! She quickened her pace as she strode through the tree lined park. The soft wet autumn leaves clung to the bottom of her shoes.

The chill in the air accompanied with the brilliant colours meant fall was upon them. As if her dreams hadn’t already told her. He had returned. Would she finally be rid of them and meet her true love? As she reached the coffee shop her spine tingled. Alex turned around but between the bustle of cars and people in the park, nothing struck her as odd.

With one more glance around, her gaze was brought to a tall man standing by the edge of the park. His brown hair interspersed with autumnal highlights curled against his neck. He wore tight blue jeans that showed off his muscular legs and an old gray cable knit sweater. Her heart raced. Damon. How was it possible?

He smiled and took a step closer.

Her heart and mind wared with one another. It wasn’t much of a fight. She took a step toward him but before she could continue someone grabbed her arm, spinning her around.

“Di, you scared me!”

“Why are you staring at that man across the street?”

“It’s him.”

Diana brushed her dark hair aside. “Who, Alex?”

“Do you remember the fortune tell you brought me to?”

“Don’t tell me you believe in that rubbish some old woman told you.”

“Di, ever since then I’ve had reoccurring dreams every fall about a man. None of them have been so clear as last night.

Diana leaned forward. “What kind of dreams?”

Her face grew warm. “Erotic dreams and just from touching me.”

“Interesting…”

“It’s more than that. She told me once the leaves turned gold, I would find my true love and it would be forever. When I woke this morning the old oak tree in front of my house was covered in gold leaves.”

“You believe the old woman then?”

“The man over there is the one who’s been in my dreams. It’s him. I know it in my soul. I have to go to him.”

Diana reached for Alex’s hands. “You can’t just talk to a random stranger.”

“But Di, he’s not a stranger, I feel as though I’ve known him forever. Something has brought me to life.”

Diana glanced across the street and her expression changed. “Somehow, I believe you, Alex.”

“I have to go to him.”

“I know, please be careful.”

Alex hugged Diana and strode toward him.

***

He stood in front of her. His dark chocolate brown eyes gazed into hers and she knew.

“Damon,” she whispered.

His mahogany hair curled at the nape of his neck. Her fingers itched to run her palms through his silky locks. She hesitantly reached up, he caught her hand within his grasp. The heat of his touch traveled through her body and joined the achy throb between her legs, just as it had during her dreams. She wanted his hands to roam all over her.

“Alexandra?” he asked in wonder.

The deep timber of his voice shook her to the core.

“It’s you.”

“Yes, I’m here. You saved me.”

“How?”

“I’ve spent years making up for the mistakes of my past. The one I thought to be my true love lied to me and I was stuck in an endless hell. A reprieve came long ago when I was told, when the leaves turn gold my one true love would pull me out of purgatory. I didn’t believe until you touched me. I owe you my life.”

“Someone told me the same. You’ve haunted my dreams for five years. Finally, I can see you.” Alex stroked his face.

He smiled and when he did, his face went from handsome to downright gorgeous. Her knees grew weak. Good thing he held her up or else she would have fallen into a puddle at his feet.

“Each time the leaves fell and the weather grew cool. I dreamed of you as well. Those fall days kept me sane. I thought I would continue to waste away until you brought me back last night. Thank you, my love.”

Love?

Alex’s breath hitched. “You love me?”

“Of course, I do. You saved me, no one else but my true love could have done that.” He brushed a light kiss against her lips.

Alex pulled him closer and his tongue dove deeper into her mouth. The passion building in her since her dreams began had come to a culmination. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

“Promise me you’ll never disappear again. I need you, Damon.”

“Don’t fear, I will always be by your side. Now and forever.”

Alex kissed him again. Forever. Now that was something worth living for.

“Let’s go start our lives together,” said Damon.

Alex slid her fingers into his and they walked down the golden leaf path toward their future.